The silence was suffocating.
Every student stood frozen as Aizawa's words echoed in their minds.
"Whoever ranked last… will be expelled."
Kairo kept his posture relaxed, but inside, his mind was calculating. This is a psychological play. Aizawa wasn't just testing their physical limits—he was gauging their ability to handle pressure, fear, and failure.
His gaze flickered toward Izuku Midoriya.
The green-haired boy was visibly shaking, his fingers clenched into trembling fists. Kairo had seen that determined look before—back when they met at the beach. But now, it was mixed with sheer dread.
Izuku knew.
He had placed last.
Aizawa's glowing scarlet eyes locked onto the trembling student.
"You barely kept up in most of the tests. You lack control, and your reliance on sudden bursts of power is reckless," he stated, voice unreadable.
Midoriya swallowed hard.
"But…" Aizawa exhaled, rubbing his temples. "You still gave it everything you had."
The tension in the air crackled.
Kairo watched as Midoriya shut his eyes, bracing himself for the inevitable words.
Then—
Aizawa sighed.
"…I was lying."
A wave of confusion swept through the class.
"Wait, what?!" Kaminari shouted.
"There was no actual expulsion?" Yaoyorozu blinked, caught off guard.
Aizawa stuffed his hands in his sleeping bag. "It was a logical ruse to push you all to your limits. I needed to see how you'd handle the fear of failure." His sharp gaze scanned them. "Some of you crumbled. Some of you thrived. But every single one of you fought harder because of it."
Midoriya collapsed onto his knees, gasping in relief.
Kairo crossed his arms, allowing himself a small smirk.
"He's strict, but he's not unfair."
Aizawa turned toward the exhausted students. "Your real work starts tomorrow. Dismissed."
And with that, he walked off.
Leaving the Training Grounds
Kairo let out a slow breath, rolling his shoulders as he made his way toward the locker rooms.
"You really crushed that test, huh?"
He turned to see Kenta, grinning as he stretched his sore arms. "Not gonna lie, I thought Bakugo would explode after seeing your name at the top."
"Speaking of…" Mei chimed in, adjusting the straps of her mechanical wristbands. Her illusionary quirk had given her an edge in a few of the tests, tricking opponents into misjudging distances or miscalculating their movements. "Did you see his face? I thought smoke was gonna come out of his ears."
Kairo chuckled. "He's competitive. Can't blame him."
From across the field, Bakugo's glare bore into him, hands stuffed into his pockets, jaw tight with frustration.
Kairo held his gaze for a moment before turning away. He had no interest in provoking a fight—but something told him their rivalry was far from over.
As they reached the lockers, Kairo felt a presence beside him.
Midoriya.
The green-haired boy looked nervous, but determined.
"Kairo… um, I just wanted to say…" He took a breath. "You're incredible."
Kairo blinked. That was unexpected.
"I mean," Midoriya hurriedly continued, "your Quirk is so precise, and your movements are so efficient. I—I studied everyone's abilities during the test, and yours stood out. It's almost like you don't waste a single motion."
Kairo tilted his head, surprised. "You analyzed all of us?"
Midoriya nodded eagerly. "Yeah! I—I mean, I don't have complete control over my own Quirk yet, so I try to learn from others. It helps me understand how I can improve."
Kairo studied him for a moment. He had seen plenty of strong fighters before. But this?
This was different.
Midoriya's strength wasn't just in power—it was in his mind. His ability to observe, analyze, and adapt.
Kairo nodded. "That's a good mindset. Keep at it."
Midoriya's face lit up, as if those simple words had lifted some of the weight off his shoulders.
"Thanks, Kairo!" He grinned before running off to join Iida and Uraraka.
Kairo watched him go, then exhaled.
"That guy… he's got something special."
As Kairo walked back toward the dorms, his mind began to race.
Midoriya had studied everyone's Quirks, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses. Why hadn't he thought of that sooner?
He had always relied on his own instincts and experience to improve—but what if he could take it a step further?
He mentally replayed every test from today, recalling how each student moved:
Bakugo's aggressive and explosive combat style.
Todoroki's cold efficiency, relying on pure power.
Iida's incredible speed and precise movements.
Mei's deceptive illusions, forcing opponents to second-guess reality.
"If I can break down their fighting styles, their strengths… I can adapt my own techniques accordingly."
For the first time in a long while, Kairo felt like he had a new path to growth.
Midoriya wasn't the only one inspired today.
After a grueling day, Kairo finally collapsed onto his bed, letting out a long sigh.
The dorms were spacious, well-furnished, and surprisingly comfortable. U.A. really didn't hold back when it came to providing for its students.
He stared at the ceiling, his mind still buzzing.
The thrill of competition. The weight of expectations. The undeniable presence of rivals.
But most of all—
The realization that he wasn't at the top yet.
There was always room to improve.
And he would improve.Tomorrow would bring more challenges. More battles.
But for now
He closed his eyes.And let sleep take over.